| |
oxytocin
(ok″se-to´sin)
a hormone produced in the hypothalamus and stored as a posterior pituitary hormonefor release as necessary; it may also be prepared synthetically or obtained from the posterior pituitary of domestic animals.
It acts as a powerful stimulant to the pregnant uterus, especially toward the end of gestation, and also causes milk to be
expressed from the alveoli into the lactiferous ducts during breastfeeding. Injection of oxytocin may be used to induce labor or strengthen uterine contractions during labor, to contract uterine muscle after delivery of the placenta, and to control
postpartum hemorrhage.
Copyright 2007. An Elsevier publication. All rights reserved.
Click here for important legal information about Dorland's Medical Dictionary.
|
